The Perfect Game (2 page)

Jack walked, no, make that
sauntered
, over to where I stood. His black cargo shorts and tight-fitting gray baseball t-shirt did a number on his body. The definition of his arm muscles rippled against the fabric, accentuating his well-defined shoulders on his six-foot frame as his arms swayed. He tilted his head and narrowed his eyes at me like I was some tiny, helpless creature who didn’t have a clue it was about to get eaten alive by the most beautiful, albeit dangerous, creature in the jungle. 

I almost felt violated.

Dirty.

Like I needed a shower to scrub that look off my body.

It wasn’t until he got close enough that I could read the writing on his shirt. It said, “No Glove No Love” with a picture of a catcher’s mitt in the middle.

What a
P
ig.
Yes, with a capital P.

Two can play this game.

Defenses up
. 

“So you’re Melissa’s roommate?” The words came out smooth like butter, his voice deep and sexy.

“You’re a genius,” I said, going for my most uninterested tone.

“Hey now, don’t be mean. I just wanted to meet you.” He looked me in the eyes with a focused, unbreakable stare. “You have beautiful eyes.”

“Nice shirt.” I gave him a disgusted once-over, trying to cover the fact that I wanted to laugh. It was clever, but I’d be dammed if I would admit that to a guy like him. 

He looked down and smirked. “Ah, you like that? I think it’s a pretty responsible message I’m sending out, don’t you?”

I said nothing, questioning whether anything that came out of this guy’s mouth was genuine or not.

“What? Cat got your tongue? You don’t believe in safe sex?”

Was this guy for real? “What do you want?” My lips pursed together, making my tone harsher than I had intended.

“I told you, I wanted to meet you. I’m Jack Carter.” He reached out his hand and I looked at it, my arms firmly crossed against my stomach.

“I know who you are.” I pretended not to care. He was beautiful. And he was charming. And a man-whoring pig.
God, what is wrong with me?
 

“So you’ve heard of me, huh, Kitten?”

My lips suddenly felt like they were filled with lead as they turned downward in disgust. “You did
not
just call me ‘Kitten.’ Do I look like a stripper to you?”

He looked me up and down
and then did it again. “Well, now that you mention it.”

“You’re an asshole.” I pushed past him to walk away, but he grabbed me.

I tore my arm from his grip. “It costs fifty cents every time you touch me. Don’t do it again.”

“Oh, so you’re not a stripper, you’re a whore?” 

“Oh, so you’re not only an asshole, you’re a piece of shit,” I responded as I stomped away.

“I like you,” he shouted at my back.

“So you’re dumb, too,” I tossed over my shoulder with a glare. “I’ll add it to the list of your many redeeming qualities.” 

I heard him laugh before I entered the house to search for Melissa. I finally found her in the backyard, drinking something out of a red plastic cup and talking to a group of people I didn’t recognize. I appeared at her side before she realized I was there. 

“Oh my God, Cass, what did he say to you?” She ushered me toward an empty clearing in the yard.

I grabbed a drink for myself off a nearby table and rolled my eyes. “Nothing. He’s a jackass.”

“I told you.” She smirked and shrugged her shoulders. “Well, he’s clearly gotten over you already. Look.”

She pointed toward an open window where Jack was attached at the lips to a scantily clad blonde. One of his hands gripped her backside, while the other pulled at the back of her head. I shook my head in disgust at his public display of man whoredom. 

“And then what? He’ll just never talk to her again?” I asked, trying to figure him out.

Melissa turned to eye me, curiosity lurking behind those baby blues. “No. They’ll talk. I mean, unless she gets all pissed off at him for…being him. But he won’t ever hook up with her again. He never hooks up with the same girl twice.”

“And the girls…they know this?” I was shocked.
Seriously, do these girls have no self-esteem?

“They know.”

“Pathetic.” I frowned and looked back at Jack just in time to see him leading the girl away by the hand, a smile plastered all over her perfect little face.

*****

And that was my first introduction to Jack Carter.

Jack fucking Carter.

The next big thing in the world of baseball. Word has it he throws somewhere between ninety-three and ninety-four miles per hour when he
’
s on the mound. That
’
s fast.
Real fast.
Especially for a lefty. And you can
’
t teach speed. You either have the ability to throw that fast or you don
’
t.

And apparently he had it.

On and off the baseball field.

*****

Two days later I walked into the student union, scanning the area between the bowling lanes and the bar for Melissa. Everyone on campus seemed to congregate there since it’s where the lone pizza restaurant was located. When it came to college and college students, pizza seemed to be on everyon
e’
s diet menu. 

She spotted me and waved her tanned arms frantically above her head. Melissa looked like a lunatic and it made me laugh out loud. I waved back, then grabbed a tray and bought my lunch before weaving my way through a crowd of other students toward her table.

“Kitten.”

The deep, sultry voice stopped me in my tracks as my smile faded. I turned toward the source of the voice with revulsion. “You know, I don’t even like cats.” I lifted one brow and fixed Jack with a fierce stare.

He fiddled with his baseball cap before putting it back on his head and tucking his dark hair underneath. I felt almost mesmerized as he ran his fingers absentmindedly across the white stitching of our school’s initials. I found myself noticing the way his dark blue shirt fit snugly against the muscles in his arms and shoulders. I hated how good-looking he was.

“Actually, I didn’t know. But I’m glad I do.” He smiled and I swear part of my heart melted right then and there at the sight of his dimples. 

I totally suck.

I tried to walk toward Melissa, who eyed me with piqued curiosity, but he stood his stupid gorgeous body in my path. I quickly moved to the right, but he hopped to his left to block me. I took another step to the left and he quickly moved too.

“What do you want, Jack?” I said, the anger in my voice taking us both by surprise.

“Are you always this hostile?” His smile told me he was teasing, before forcing his dimples to reappear and my body to flush with heat.

“Only to guys like you.” 

“So tell me, Kitten, what’s
a guy like me
?”

“Not worth my time.” I shoved my tray into his gut and when he let out an
ooof
, I scurried past him, trying not to spill my soda.

“You’ll come around
,”
he shouted.

“
I wouldn’t hold your breath
.” 

I rushed to our table, throwing down my tray of food.

“Nice scene.” Melissa’s eyes were huge as she fought a grin.

“Huh?” 

“Look around.” She waved an arm, gesturing toward the crowd.

I glanced around the bar and the other tables. All eyes were either on me or Jack.
Great.
The last thing I wanted was the entire school thinking I was Jack Carter’s latest conquest.

“Is he always that obnoxious?” I ripped the top off my raspberry yogurt. 

“I don’t know, Cass. I’ve never seen him act that way before if that’s what you’re asking.”

“I don’t know what I’m asking.” Irritated and annoyed, I scanned the room for Jack’s face. He sat at a table surrounded by giddy girls, tossing their hair, pawing his muscles, and laughing obnoxiously at whatever he said. His eyes briefly met mine before I turned away, and I felt my heart beat a little faster.

“Jesus. How have I never noticed this spectacle before?” I wondered out loud.

Melissa chuckled. “I honestly don’t know. Happens every day.”

“Those girls have no shame. I’m almost embarrassed for them.”

“You know they all want to be the one he actually falls for.” Melissa sounded sympathetic as she removed the crust from her slice of cheese pizza.

“Good luck with that, ladies!” I gave the gawking girls a fake salute, then turned my attention to attacking my yogurt.

Curiosity got the best of me when I heard shouts and the sound of slapping high-fives. I looked back to Jack’s table to see a boy about Jack’s height and build sitting down next to him. “Who’s that?” I asked Melissa, nosy in spite of myself.

“The one who just sat down? That’s Dean…Jack’s little brother. He’s a freshman.”

“How the hell do you know that? You’re like a freaking college directory,” I teased.

“He’s in one of my classes.” 

“Wait,” I said, putting one hand up in the air. “How do you have a class with a freshman?”

“I still have a couple of lower-level classes to take and he’s in one of them. He’s really sweet. Not like Jack at all,” Melissa added with a smile and a faraway look in her eyes.

“Oh my God, you like him!” 

“I do not!” Melissa whispered defensively. “I barely even know him! I’m just saying he’s nothing like his brother, is all.”

“Okay, calm down. Jeez. It’s okay to like Jack Carter’s little brother.” I glanced back at Dean, admiring his smile, but noting the lack of dimples his brother wore so well. “He is cute.” I poked her shoulder.

“He is, right?” She eyed him from a distance.

“At least you like the good one.” I smiled, turning back to see the brothers throwing their arms around each other’s necks.

“As if I’d like the other one! Jack’s disgusting.” She pretended to stick a finger down her throat and made gagging noises.

“So you keep saying,” I said, taking another spoonful of yogurt. 

“I swear to God, Cassie. If you end up falling for his shit, I don’t want to hear it. I’ve watched him the last two years before you got here. I’m telling you, he’s the ultimate playboy.” She silenced her rant with a quick chomp at her banana.

“I hear you. Okay? Steer clear of Jack Carter. It shouldn’t be that hard, considering I don’t want to go anywhere near him.”

We both smiled, momentarily satisfied with my promise. 

TWO

The sun warmed my body the moment I stepped out of the three-story
Communications & Arts
Building
. A gentle breeze swept across my face as I observed my fellow students. Some rushed to get to class, while others fought for sunny areas on the lawn. I smiled as I passed a long-haired kid playing the guitar. He played under the same tree every day, and I started to wonder if he was a student at all or if he just liked being on the large, sprawling campus. 

I passed by the university bookstore and shops, making a mental note to pick up two scantrons for my upcoming tests. Herds of people milled in and out of the student union entrance as I walked in. My eyes immediately fell on Jack and his harem of fans. I couldn’t get over how I’d never noticed it before, but now it was all I saw. He flexed his muscles for a couple of girls who screamed when they grabbed on to his bicep. I heard him say, “H
old on
,” as he lifted them into the air. I frowned with disgust as he demonstrated his pitching motion in slow speed, much to the delight of the squealing girls.

“He is such an attention whore.” I slammed my body down in the seat across from Melissa.

“Then stop paying attention to him.”

“It’s sort of hard not to when he’s always creating a spectacle.” I waved my arms toward the gaggle of girls following his every move.

“Hi, Melissa.” A deep voice interrupted my Jack-bashing.

“Oh…hi, Dean,” Melissa responded, her voice all soft and sweet. I shot a quick glance at her under my eyelashes, and smiled to myself.

“Would you mind if I sat with you?” Dean smiled when he asked and kept his hazel eyes locked on Melissa’s. 

“No. We’re much better company than your brother’s table anyway,” she teased, poking him in the ribs.

He glanced in Jack’s direction, shaking his head. “It just gets old sometimes, you know?” He placed a slice of pizza on the table and sat down.

“Hi, I’m Dean.” He stretched his hand across the table.

“I’m Cassie. I’m Melissa’s roommate.” I grabbed his hand and squeezed. 

“It’s nice to—”